Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Northern Kentucky University and new head coach John Brannen have released a challenging nonconference schedule for the 2015-16 season.

The Norse schedule will be highlighted by road trips to West Virginia, Xavier and Michigan.

Here is a release from NKU:

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –Northern Kentucky men's basketball head coach John Brannen announced the team's nonconference schedule on Monday. The schedule features four teams NKU played a season ago and three traditional national powers.

"I'm excited for the nonconference schedule that we've put together," commented Brannen. "We wanted to schedule a slate of games that would challenge our team and prepare us to enter our first season in the Horizon League."

In a return game from last season, Northern Kentucky will head to Morgantown, West Virginia, on Friday, Nov. 13, to square off against the Bob Huggins-led West Virginia Mountaineers to kick off the 2015-16 season. NKU and WVU met last season at BB&T Arena, with the Mountaineers pulling away in the second half en route to a 67-42 decision.

The Norse return home for consecutive games against Tiffin on Nov. 17 and in-state foe Morehead State on Nov. 21. NKU and MSU also squared off a season ago in a tilt where Tyler White poured in 24 points en route to an 83-60 Northern Kentucky victory in Morehead, Kentucky.

A short trip across the Ohio River then awaits NKU, as the Norse will take on Xavier on Monday, Nov. 23. The matchup against the Musketeers is the first since the 1978-79 campaign.